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The 39 Steps
1935·86 min·★ 7.3
MysteryThriller
Richard Hanney has a rude awakening when a glamorous female spy falls into his bed - with a knife in her back. Having a bit of trouble explaining it all to Scotland Yard, he heads for the hills of Scotland to try to clear his name by locating the spy ring known as The 39 Steps.
Status
Released
Budget
$75,000
Cast
Robert Donat
Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll
Pamela
Lucie Mannheim
Annabella Smith
Godfrey Tearle
Professor Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft
The Crofter's Wife Margaret
John Laurie
John the Crofter
Discussion
CinemaSerf★ 8/10
A simply wonderful, sophisticated, adaptation of John Buchan's book of wartime espionage and murder. Robert Donat ("Hannay") goes to the theatre to see a man with an incredible memory; but instead becomes embroiled in a tale of cloak-and-dagger antics that see him accused of murder and forced to flee to the highlands of Scotland. It is here that he encounters a sceptical Madeleine Carroll and together they try to get to the bottom of this clever mystery. The dark and eerie Scottish scenery adds to the suspense and there are two good cameos from Peggy Ashcroft and John Laurie too. I found the ending let this down a little - but it is still a gripping hour and half to watch under the expert hand of Alfred Hitchcock.
